Flow control



0d- 24, 1944 K. T. HARTwxG 2,361,095

FLOW CONTROL Filed Sept. 28. 1942 Patented Och 24, 1944' FLOW CONTROL Karl T. Hartwig, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, lll., a "corporation of Delaware Application September 28, 1942, Serial No. 460,011

(Cl. 13S-46) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved flow control method and apparatus and more particularly to a system which is especially adapted to control the iiow of streams of uid having entrained therein nely divided solid particles.

My invention may be readily adapted for use in many processes wherein it is desired to control the ow of streams of iiuid carrying solid particles such as in iluidized catalyst processes for the conversion of hydrocarbon oils. For instance in the iiuidized catalyst process for cracking hydrocarbon oils, it is desirable to control the quan-v tity of catalyst being withdrawn from both the reactor and the regenerator. This is generally accomplished by means of adjustable orices which are controlled by the differential pressure between the up-stream and down-stream sides of the uid carrying conduit. Considerable diiiiculty has been encountered in the operation of `maintained in the desired position, but if at any time it becomes plugged, means are provided for immediately opening the oriiice to its maximum size. to allow any plugging material to pass through.

within the scope of the invention to employ other types of valves with adjustable port sizes for controlling the now of fluid through conduit I. 'I'he slide 4 is actuated by air operated diaphragm and spring 6, the spring 6 being arranged to open the orifice and the diaphragm being arranged to close it. The position of vthe oriiice is controlled phragm This air pressure is4 controlled by l In order to make the features and advantages of my invention more clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing and the following description thereof:

The drawing illustrates one arrangement of apparatus with parts in section which may be employed for carrying out my invention.

The stream of iluid containing entrainedsolidparticles which it is desired to control, flowsthrough conduit I in which is located adjustable orifice valve 2. In the case here illustrated, this valve is provided with flanged connections for securing it tothe conduit, but other suitable means may beemployed'. Valve 2 is provided with a square oriiice 3 and a slide 4. Slide I is provided with a'square eut hole and'by adjusting itsposition with' respect to ori 3, thedesirel orifice size may be obtained. It is, of course, well by means 'of air pressure applied to the diameans of a thrcttling control instrument l, which also contains means for recording the position of the slide at all times.

Filtered air at a constant pressure is supplied through conduit 8 to throttle valve 9 Within control instrument l. The outlet of valve 9 is connected by means of conduit Into valve II, the function of which will later be described. -The outlet of valve II is connected by means of conduit I2 to the pressure chamber adjacent diaphragm 5. By adjusting valve 9. any desired pressure may be maintained on diaphragm 5 which, in turn, 'vill determine the position of slide li.

'I'he air inlet pressure to controller 1 is indicated by pressure gauge I3 and the controlled pressure to diaphragm 5 is indicated by pressure vgauge It. 'I'he desired location of slide 4 is indicated by the pointer I5 in controller l. This pointer in the case illustrated is connected by suitable linkage means to the throttling valve t and any adjustmec of valve 9 will be indicate and 22 connect the outer ends of the two coils.

The circuit is connected to a suitable source of alternating current by means of electrical conductors -23 and 2l which are connected respectively to conductors 20 and 22.

Within coil I8 is disposed a movable plunger t 26 consisting of suitable magnetic material, the position of which is controlled by the pivoted lever 25, one end of which engages a pin secured to rod Il and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the extension of plunger 26. Another magnetic plungeial is disposed within coil I9 and plunger 2i is moved within coil I8, plunger 21 will assume a corresponding position' within coil I9 and the pen on arm i6 will record the position of oi conduits Il and 32 respectively to an aneroid type differential pressure element I3 which is disposed within control instrument 34. Air for in'- strument 34 -is supplied through conduit 35 and its pressure is indicated by means of gauge 36.

nuit In from instrument 1.

Controlled pressure from instrument 34 is transmitted through conduit 11 to diaphragm 3B which actuates plug 39 in valve Il. This controlled Y 2,so1,o9c connected to pen arm Il by pitlnanv 2l.' .When

on the diaphragm to the atmosphere. .When .the pressure is removed from diaphragm l, spring I will immediately move slide 4 to a position providing the maximum orice size thus allowing the accumulated material to Ypass therethrough. When valve 2 becomes unplugged. the pressure diilerential thereacross will decrease and the pressure is indicated by means of gauge 40. The

corrugated bellows 4I within manometer 33 is v connected by means of -pivoted lever 42 and connecting linkage to pen arm 43 and vane 44. The"l pen, therefore. will record the diierential pressure across valve 2 and vane 44 ,will attain a position corresponding to said differential pressure. Conduit 35 within instrument 34 is connected .to conduit 45 which supplies air to movable orifice 46 and also supplies air through conduit 41 to the diaphragm on air controlling .valve 48. An oriiice or other suitable pressure reducing means 49 is located in line 45 to restrictthe ow ofv air therethrough. Orice 45 is carriedby conduit 50 which in tum is secured by pivoted connection 5I to conduit 45. The position of oriiice 46 is determined by the position of knob 52 which is connected by means of bell crank 53 and pitman 54 to movable conduit 50. The position of ariiice 46 is also indicated by pointer 55 which is likewise connected to bell crank 5S by pitman 56.

Valve Ii is provided with a sliding plug 39 and operates in either one or the other of two extreme positions. With no air pressure on the diaphragm, the spring 51 will maintain the plug in the position connecting conduit I2 with con- When pressure is applied to diaphragm. 38, plug 39 will assume a position such that conduit I2 will be connected to vent 58 thus relieving the air pressure on diaphragm 5.

' In operation. my apparatus functions as fol..

lows: by adjusting valve t. slide 4 is maintained arm I5.

come plugged in any desired position which is indicated and recorded on' a chart, not shown, by the pen on Control instrument 34 is set at some predetermined pressure diierential which corresponds to the normal operation of the system for the particular size oriiice which hasbeen set by instrument 1. It at-some time, the oriilce should bedue to anaccumulation of solid particles, .`the\ differential 'pressure -thereacross will be increased. This increase in diierential A The pressure applied to diaphragm 38 will cause plug t9 toassurpnjheposition whichcutsl oil airr agm land vents any pressure .l/l

pressure to dia whole system will return to normal, that is, plug Il in valve II will assume a position connecting instrument 'l to diaphragm 5 and will continue to thus operate until the orifice again may become plugged.

It is well within the scope of my invention to employ electrically connected and operated instruments land control valves in place of the air or uid pressure operated ones shown in the accompanying illustrative drawing. The invention `is also not to be limited to the speciiic instruments shown because many other control instru- -ments and valves may be just as readily adapted to my system of ilow control. .I claim as my invention:

which comprises in combination a port of adinstable size disposed in the conduit through.

which said stream is passed, control means for maintaining said port at a predetermined 'conl stricted size, and means responsive to an increase conduit or o. stream o: num containing coolylarged and remain suilicientlyenlarged to allow accumulations of said particles to pass therethrough.`

2. A device for regulating the flow through a divided particles. which comprises in combination a port having adjacent thereto a slidable member for varying the eiective size of said port.

said port being positioned in said conduit through which said stream is passed, a control instrument, an .actuating mechanism for moving said slidable/ member disposed in a port opening directin, said actuating mechanism being motivat in response to impulses transmitted from said control instrument to decrease the size of said port to a predetermined constricted sizeand .means responsive to an increase in pressure dif- Ierential across said port in excess of a predetermined amout for relieving said actuating mechof said impulses permitting said port to trsriiomltted to diaphsgm :s through conduit s1.

become enlarged and remain enlarged to allow accumulations of said particles to pass therethrough.

3. A device for regulating the flow of a stream oi' uid containing -iinely divided solid particles, which comprises in combination a port of adjustable size dispedv in a. fully open position in the conduit through which said stream is passed, a control instrument, means for decreasing the eilective size of said port to a predetermined constricted size in response to impulses transmitted from said control instrument means' responsive to an increase in pressure differential across n said port in excess of a predetermined'amount for 'relieving' the ilrst-named means of said impulses.

port to become 'and remain fully KARL to permit said opened. 

